The Celebration of the Gospel
December 23, 2018 — Fourth Sunday of Advent
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what God has spoken to her.
— Luke 1.45
________ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE — Pat-A-Pan Bernard de la Monnoye, arr: Robert W. Thygerson
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.
You may light a votive candle in prayer
any time during the prelude, hymns, offering, Peace, communion or postlude.]
CALL TO WORSHIP
God, we are waiting, watching and hoping.
Come to us and save us, and bring us peace.
1. God, when you draw near, something in us leaps for joy: love that grows within us, stirring.
Blessed is the one who believes what you have said, whose heart leaps up in joy.
2. Praise, my soul, to God who has acted mightily, favoring the low with blessing,
bringing down the mighty and raising up the poor! God’s mercy shall prevail
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE from Micah 5.2-5
[After a time of suffering a ruler for Israel will come from Bethlehem and feed the people, and reign in peace.]
Now you, O Bethlehem, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. God’s chosen one shall stand and feed God’s flock in the strength of God, in the majesty of the name of the Holy One our God. And the people shall live secure, for their ruler shall be great to the ends of the earth, the one of peace.
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God of love, you promise our salvation, coming from among us.
Grace stirs within us. Love lives among us.
Christ is near. We waken to the light of your presence.
We rise in the dawning of the mystery of love made flesh.
* SONG — Blessed Child of Bethlehem — Steve G-H
Blessed child of Bethlehem, waiting to be born,
some will bring you incense, and some a crown of thorns.
yet you bear so gently all our joys and harms.
How I long to greet you, and hold you in my arms.
Blessed child of heaven, waiting to be born,
joy of all Creation, delight of those who mourn:
teach us how to worship, teach us how to love,
living in the presence of angels from above.
Blessed child among us waiting to be born,
in whom all are healed, and all our sorrows borne,
help us live in love, in peace and reconciled.
By your birth in us, everyone’s a holy child.
Blessed child within me, waiting to be born,
bringing gifts and wonders with the light of morn,
heaven springing in me, new life yet to grow:
child of holy promise, oh how I love you so!
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG — Mary — Amy Tate Williams
PRAYER
God of love, you promise your presence, and you pledge to us your mercy and grace. Open our eyes to see the dawning of your light within us and among us. Open our hearts to your Word, that we might trust in what you have spoken to us. Speak to us again, that we may live in the light of your coming. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Hebrews 10.5-7
[The passage begins with a quote from Psalm 40: God does not desire that we pay for our sins, but that we do God’s will. Psalm 40 reads, “you have prepared ears for me,” suggesting listening and obedience. But Hebrews changes it to “you have prepared a body:” Christ embodies Gods love. As Mary prepares for the birth of Jesus, the Incarnation draws near.]
Coming into the world,. Christ said,
“You did not ask me to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
You enabled me to embody your love.
You have no desire for burnt offerings and sin offerings “
Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will,
as it is written, O God’, in the scroll of the book.’”
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GOSPEL Luke 1.39-45
[After the angel Gabriel’s visit, Mary visits Elizabeth, who is six months pregnant. When Mary greets her the child in Elizabeth’s womb (who will become John the Baptist) leaps for joy. Elizabeth affirms Mary’s faith and her gifts.]
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of the Messiah comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by God.”
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* CANTICLE Luke 1.467-55
[Mary’s song of praise, called the Magnificat (from the first word of the Latin version). She praises God for blessing her despite her low social position and describes God’s justice and mercy: God overturns the social stratification of rich and poor, powerful and oppressed. Like Micah, Mary sees that the poor will be fed and cared for. ]
My soul sings out in joy to God,
and glorifies my Savior:
for in my powerless, lowly state,
my God has shown me favor.
Praise! Praise the Mighty one
for all the things that God has done.
Love, love will honor God,
Who promises mercy forever.
God’s arm is strong, and mercy great,
God’s name forever is holy.
God brings the powerful down from thrones
while lifting up the lowly.
Praise God, who feeds the poor,
and leaves the wealthy rich no more.
Praise, praise the Faithful One
who promises mercy forever.
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SERMON Blessed are you who believe
SONG Love Came Down at Christmas Blue hymnal # 24
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer at the microphone.]
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
___________We Share at Christ’s Table_________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:15: Waiting For The Lord – Colin Curtis
10:30: Rocking
* COMMUNION SONG In the Bleak Midwinter Blue hymnal #221
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Beloved, God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Faithful One, our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
How blessed we are that our life-giver and savior has come to us!
Our hearts within us leap for joy at the sound of your voice.
We praise you, God, for you birth us in love.
You promise yourself to us, and you are faithfully present.
You defeat the forces of oppression, set us free,
and call us to join you in building a world of mercy and justice.
You bring down the mighty and raise up the lowly;
you leave the rich wanting and feed the hungry with good things.
Therefore with all Creation, we sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy One, O God of mercy and God of love,
Creation shines with your glorious presence. Hosanna on high.
Blessed is one who comes in your name, in the name of your faithful love.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna, hosanna on high.
Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ:
in him, you were incarnate among us and live with us always.
He taught and healed, he embodied forgiveness and reconciliation;
he recognized the divine in each of us and called it to life.
[…The Blessing and Covenant…]
Whenever we break this bread and share this cup we remember his incarnation,
his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Remembering your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves, with praise and thanksgiving,
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery at the heart of our faith.
Dying, Christ destroyed our death;
and rising, Christ restores our life;
and Christ will come again in love.
Hosanna, hosanna on high.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts,
that they may be for us the Body and Blood of the Holy One Jesus Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may trust what you have spoken to us,
and conceive in our souls
and bring forth your love made flesh:
that by the grace of your Spirit in us
we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
Amen. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Amen. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You awake us to your divine presence within and among us. Lead us out toward your presence in all the world, to serve, nourish and delight in the Divine Child in this world, by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Blue hymnal #216
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Every Valley Shall Be Exalted G. F. Handel, arr: Emily Lund
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]